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Posted By: Brian Hodes

Back in this period teams still did not entirely control what they were called so it certainly posible that the team now known as the Yankees had more than one "name." In fact, as two learned posters above point out the sportswriters to a large extent namedthe teams.
To some extent this lack of formal naming (and all of the legal and marketing stuff that accompanied it) accounts for many of the amusing names of the late 19th and early 20th century. Some of these names even live on today (e.g. the Pittsbugh Pirates).
Among my favorites:
The Cleveland Naps (Indians) -- presumably because they had the great Lajoie one of the American leagues first marquee players.
The Chicago Orphans (Cubs) -- Circa 1897 (I think) because after 20+ years they lost their "Pop" Cap
Anson.
Other names that I don't know/recall the origins of are equally curious:
The Brooklyn Bridegrooms;
The Brooklyn Superbas (whatever that means); and
The Boston Beaneaters (supply your own punchline).